Treating leather boots?

Fishstix · 06-09-2007, 10:18 AM

What do you guys use to treat your leather hunting boots?

baltz526 · 06-09-2007, 11:44 AM

nothing realy works to waterproof, but on my shelf right now is obenaufs heavy duty LP. picked it up at JOE'S

mpmax · 06-09-2007, 12:44 PM

I've been using mink oil for years, have heard of stiching weakening, but, never experienced it.

SandyRiverFisher · 06-10-2007, 07:37 AM

Second vote for the obenaufs heavy duty LP,

also, their silicone water shield.

jokester · 06-10-2007, 09:32 AM

I picked up some of the Danner leather cleaner/treatment, followed by a coat of their waterproofing. 1 application per year...works pretty good for my old boots.

-jokester

gottafish · 06-10-2007, 02:25 PM

obenaufs heavy duty LP

Pretty much the best ever

oregonmuley · 06-10-2007, 03:56 PM

We must all be really bored waiting for the results to show - just came in from putting Obenaufs LP on all my boots! Good stuff so far.

Bobberman · 06-10-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottafish

obenaufs heavy duty LP

Pretty much the best ever

When I use to fight wildland fire I used a swedish system of oil and wax (can't remember the brand). It kept the $500 whites alive in the most harsh enviornment I can think of for leather. Now I Run Obenaufs it's easier to find and works with Gore Tex

SImudBogger · 06-10-2007, 08:57 PM

kiwi camp dry

Lured In · 06-11-2007, 07:07 AM

I use a wax based product like sno-seal. I have heard rumblings that oil and silicone based products will eventually evaporate out the moisture in the leather.

It works well, especially when you melt in a couple coats with a hair dryer.

Hunt'nFish · 06-11-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baltz526

nothing realy works to waterproof, but on my shelf right now is obenaufs heavy duty LP. picked it up at JOE'S

Finest stuff I'd found....even better than bear grease. And it doesn't smell like predator!
Hunt'nFish

Herm · 06-11-2007, 03:35 PM

best stuff I have used is call Montana Pitch Blend....works great!

ehunter · 06-12-2007, 08:22 AM

I use that too seems to work well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herm

best stuff I have used is call Montana Pitch Blend....works great!

tag-a-long · 06-13-2007, 06:23 AM

*I used danner treatment-- didn't work well for the cost
*mink oil-- broke down the stitching in the boots read leather coming apart at the seams around the lowers
*OBENAUFS--The heavy duty LP comes in a paste and melts with the heat of your hands as you rub it on. I coated my new danners three times before wearing them and at least once a week if not more since. They look nearly new still after 7 months. I have the liquid obenaufs with the dauber in the jar to moisturize leather. Worked well on my ollder boots but haven't used it on the new ones yet. Google it. This stuff is all natural.

MarlinMark · 06-13-2007, 07:12 AM

I tried everything before and the only thing that I liked for full grain leather boots is pure bees wax. It makes the leather a little stiffer and the boots don't get wet and stretch out. Even if your boots are "gortex waterproof" the leather will get saturated and then they will be too soft, not giving you the support that you purchased them for. All of the store bought brand stuff will wear out faster than bees wax. If they have a was in them then the other chemicals that are in them will cause them to wear off faster than the bees wax. I treated my Danner's a couple of 3 years ago and they are still going strong. I will touch them up this fall if I don't replace the boots altogether (not a problem with the Danner's but rather my feet.) I purchased the wax at a craft store and melted it down with a heat gun. Then I applied it to my clean, dry, untreated boots with a bbq brush/paint brush. I very lightly applied heat to the boot to assist the wax into the leather. (Remember, you wouldn't want to do anything to your boots that you wouldn't want to do to your own hide.) Work as much in as you can and let'em dry. Call it good for a few years. Water doesn't even stick to them for a milisecond the first year.

That's what I've learned. Now for that synthetic, not full grain leather stuff I don't know.

Mark

pathfinder · 06-14-2007, 06:54 AM

On my Merrel hikers i snow seal them and cook for about 20 min @ 200 degrees.On my Danners there own boot dressing.I've also used kirby's but u have to be careful because some boot dressings will make your leather soften out to much.

Riverteeth · 06-14-2007, 01:41 PM

Here's another vote for Montana Pitch Blend.

Suggestion on application: First, saddle soap on the boats to clean up the leather an open up the pores. Then heat them up. Blow dryer can do it, but if you live on the east side, just set them on a sidewalk in the sun for 30 minutes. Whatever you apply will melt like warm butter into the leather.

ehunter · 06-14-2007, 01:46 PM

hey be carefull not to over cook those puppies the glue might give away on you

Quote:

Originally Posted by pathfinder

On my Merrel hikers i snow seal them and cook for about 20 min @ 200 degrees.On my Danners there own boot dressing.I've also used kirby's but u have to be careful because some boot dressings will make your leather soften out to much.